3G Network - Three's award winning network

Introduction

Three is an award-winning UK mobile network and it has a lot to offer, from free roaming abroad, to VoLTE and increasingly widespread coverage.

In fact, whether you’re considering switching to Three or already on the network and want to make sure you’re getting the most out of it there’s a lot to know.

So to ensure you’re fully informed we’ve put all the key information here, complete with links, where necessary, to detailed guides on specific aspects of the network.

1. Coverage

Three has over 98% UK population coverage with 3G and has been rated number 1 for overall network coverage in a March 2016 YouGov survey. So you can be confident that you'll get a signal almost everywhere.

It doesn’t update its 4G coverage details as often as some networks, but at last count it had brought 4G to 63% of the UK population and that figurs is growing all the time.

2. Network frequencies

800 MHz - This is used for 4G. As a low frequency band this can travel a long way and is adept at passing through walls.

1800 MHz - This is also used for 4G. As a higher frequency band it's shorter range, but there’s more of it available, meaning there’s more capacity.

2100 MHz - This is used for 3G and is higher frequency still, so it's fairly short range, but Three's coverage and infrastructure is extensive enough that it has a faster and more comprehensive 3G network than rivals.

3. Reliability

One thing you can rely on from Three is, well, reliability. The network has been rated the most reliable in the UK by YouGov for calls, texts and data. The latest survey was carried out across 4,232 mobile users in March 2016 so it's up to date, but it's also consistent, as the survey is carried out every quarter and Three has topped the charts for the last seven.

The results mean that users feel they can more consistently connect calls, send and receive texts and use mobile data on Three than on any other UK network. With widespread coverage and 4G at no extra cost it's no surprise, but it's reassuring to know. On top of being reliable Three is also the UK's most recommended network, thanks in large part to the perks and extras highlighted in this article.

As impressive as all that is, Three has pledged to continue improving its network, with investments designed to ensure its customers can always rely on it.

4. Number 1 for mobile internet on iPhone

In another YouGov survey Three has been rated the best network for mobile internet on the iPhone. Like the reliability ratings this isn’t a one off, Three has held this title for a while, with the most recent survey carried out in March 2016.

1,348 iPhone owners were surveyed and Three was judged best-in-class across all ten mobile internet categories. The network was found to be particularly strong in download speeds, network coverage for data and reliability during the day for data, so wherever you are you should be able to download things quickly and reliably.

5. 4G Super-Voice

One huge advantage Three has over rival networks is that it’s the first and only to offer VoLTE (Voice over LTE). In Three’s case the service is called 4G Super-Voice and what it means is that you can make calls over 4G.

That has a number of advantages. Voice quality is higher, so you can hear people more clearly, calls can connect faster and it can theoretically improve your phone’s battery life, as it will no longer need to switch from a 4G network to a 3G one when making calls.

You can’t currently get Super-Voice everywhere, but it is available to over 65% of the UK population and that figure is growing.

6. Three inTouch

Three has widespread mobile coverage, but for those rare occasions where you can’t get any there’s Three inTouch. This is a free app which lets you call and text over Wi-Fi, so if there’s no signal you can stay in touch with people just as long as there’s still an available Wi-Fi connection.

It uses your normal Three number so it’s a fairly seamless experience and to set it up you just download the app from Google Play or the Apple App Store and activate it over 4G. You need a mobile signal to activate it for the first time, but once it’s been activated you can then connect it to any available Wi-Fi network. Check out our guide to Three inTouch for full details.

7. Feel At Home

Feel At Home is another massive benefit of the Three network. It allows you to use your normal allowance of minutes, texts and data when abroad at no extra cost.

It doesn’t work everywhere, but it’s currently available in Australia, Austria, Denmark, Finland, France, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Lanzarote, Macau, New Zealand, Norway, Republic of Ireland, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland and the United States.

That list is likely to grow over time and if you’re a Pay Monthly, SIM Only or Pay As You Go customer Feel At Home is activated automatically when you’re in a relevant destination. For more details, check out our full Feel At Home guide.

8. Free Wi-Fi on the London Underground

Another perk offered by Three is free Wi-Fi on the London Underground, so you can stay online at stations. Pair it with Three inTouch and you can even text and call while underground, to the amazement of all around you.

Wi-Fi is available at 150 underground stations but before you can get online you need to register for the service and create a password through your My3 account. Once you’re up and running just select the Virgin Media Wi-Fi network at a station, open your browser and log in. For more details, head to our full guide to using Wi-Fi on the London Underground with Three.

9. Three tethering

Tethering refers to sharing your phone’s mobile data connection with other devices, such as laptops or tablets, so they can get online when there’s no Wi-Fi. Three isn’t the only network that allows users to tether, but you can use all of your data allowance towards it, unless you have unlimited data, in which case you’re capped at a still-massive 30GB.

That should be more than enough for most users and it’s easy to set up. The exact process depends on your phone, but you’re looking for a ‘mobile hotspot’, ‘portable hotspot’, ‘tethering’ or ‘mobile network sharing’ option in your settings screen. From there you usually just turn it on and add a password if desired. For more details on Three tethering head to our full guide.

Note: 3G is an independent mobile phone blog and the information above has been written to assist our readers only. We do not represent Three or speak on its behalf and are entirely independent of Three.